Gerrard Rainbow Trout

• Historic/renowned: largest rainbows worldwide, to ~16 kg / 35 lb .
• Recent (2023, DNA-confirmed): Gerrards have shrunk to sizes typical of other BC lakes — predators outstripped their Kokanee prey . Both kept per vault rules; treat ~35 lb as the historical ceiling, not today's average.

Key points

• Origin: native to the West Kootenay .
• Forage-driven: boom/bust tracks the Kokanee base the Nutrient Restoration Program sustains ; current abundance has overshot kokanee supply .
• Trolling tactics: speed 3–7 kph; rainbows near-surface autumn→late spring, deeper in summer heat; bigger lures + faster troll to skip Kokanee. Krocodile spoons, Apex Hot Spot, Tomic/Lyman plugs, bucktails .
• Harvest push: the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program rewards harvesting rainbow/bull trout (turn in heads → prize draw) to relieve predation on kokanee .

Fishing by region

• The Gerrard is a Kootenay Lake strain — regulations, seasons, and tactics for it live in Gerrard Rainbow Fishing on Kootenay Lake.

Forage

• Lives on Baitfish & Fry — primarily Kokanee fry; match lure size to the fry year-class.

Open questions

• Any realistic fly approach (estuary/shoulder season)?
• Peak months from the south/Creston end of the lake.

Related

• Kootenay Lake — where they live.
• Kokanee — their forage base.